Stop BSL!

Deed, not breed

here's my story...Gosh, this really hits home. I received a notice on my apartment door yesterday 4/2/12 claiming that my dog "resembled a "pit bull mix"" which aren't allowed at my apartment complex along with several other Friendly breeds. I couldn't even begin to tell you how much hair I've pulled, how many tears I've shed and how many people I've asked for help from. It's now 4/3/12 I have two weeks left with my "Bruin" before my apartment forces me to let him go. Mixed or not he is the sweetest thing to ever happen to me and I to him ( I hope :) ) The people who run my apartment complex are no dog expert, no Cesar Milan... who are they to deem what breed my dog is or how friendly they think he is capable to be. Why must we Americans hold on to such ignorance, when we are mutts ourselves. Mixed breeds if you will. I am proud of my mixed heritage, which makes me a true American. Bruin is a gorgeous mix of Boxer and Standfordish Terrier A.K.A. Pit Bull. Stop the discrimination.

Well, Cesar Milan is not really much of a dog expert, but that's a conversation for another community (dogsintraining or dogtrainers, perhaps.)

I'm very sorry to hear that you're stuck in between a rock and a hard place with lovely Bruin and your apartment complex. One of the most complicated issues with pet ownership and apartment rental is that you're living in someone else's house/property and they get to decide the critter rules. I can definitely sympathize with your frustration -- I own a blocky dog (not the one in my icon) in a town of pet-unfriendly rentals, and after my previously pet-friendly apartment told us the dog had to go (the landlord left the complex and gave control over to his son, who changed the pet rules after his dog died), we were in a rough spot, ourselves. Even "pet on approval" units would take one look at Caiman -- a 112-pound Dogo -- and tell us no. We finally settled for a shithole of a rental until we saved up enough to buy our own place, but that's not an option for most renters!

Did you get your Bruin before or after this complex imposed the breed restrictions? Are you on a lease or a month-to-month rental? Are you certain of the breed mix (for example, is he a Staffordshire Terrier mix, or an American Staffordshire Terrier mix?) and is he down on paper anywhere as that or perhaps a different mix? What dog breeds are on the "do not" list for the complex?

BSL sucks, but until that changes it is your responsibility to be sure your dog is in a safe environment. Any chance of moving? Trying to rehome a pit mix in that short of a timeframe is usually very difficult. And his odds at a shelter, even a no kill shelter are pretty slim.

Are you POSITIVE that he is actually partially staffordshire terrier? If not, you can always try getting a DNA test done. Find out what "proof" the apartment management needs. Maybe a letter from a vet stating the dog is not a pit bull mix would suffice